Israeli jets said to strike inside Syria for second time in days
Israeli planes carried out airstrikes Syria for the second night this week, Damascus said early Thursday, while claiming that most missiles were shot down.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
IDF chief warns Lebanon, Hezbollah against triggering escalation
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi warned Lebanon on Tuesday that Israel will respond forcibly to any rocket attacks. The statement followed rocket fire by Lebanon-based terrorists on Israel late Monday night.
IDF, Mossad Push Plan for Multiple Small-Scale Operations Against Iran Nuclear Program
Israel is examining possible changes to its operational plans against the Iranian nuclear program in order to contend with a US reentry to the 2015 nuclear deal.
Sen. Lindsey Graham warns that IDF may have to launch preemptive strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities soon
Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the most respected foreign and defense policy experts in Washington, fears a new war may be coming to the Middle East sooner than most people realize.
Israeli scientists identify 3 existing drugs that can eliminate COVID-19
Hebrew University of Jerusalem studies published in a pair of medical journals suggest that already-existing drugs can be repurposed to fight Covid, Hebrew-language news sites reported Monday.
Ben & Jerry’s will stop sales in Israeli settlements of West Bank and East Jerusalem
The US-based ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s announced Monday it will continue doing business with Israel, but will stop sales in Israeli settlements of East Jerusalem and the West Bank, areas it referred to as Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). The Israel-targeted Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement has pressured Ben & Jerry’s to make such a move for years.
IDF: Iron Dome shoots down rocket from Lebanon; another lands in open area
Israel’s Iron Dome aerial defense system shot down a rocket from Lebanon after two were fired at Israel Tuesday morning, the Israeli military said.
Likud seeks to convince Gantz to bolt government, replace Bennett as PM
Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party renewed on Monday its public efforts to persuade Blue and White’s Benny Gantz to leave the government and form an alternate coalition with right-wing parties.
Abdullah seeks to revive two-state solution, bury ‘Jordan is Palestine’
Jordan is hoping that King Abdullah’s meeting with US President Joe Biden will pave the way for the kingdom to return to center stage in regional developments, particularly the Israeli-Arab conflict.
Israel pressures U.S. lawmakers to halt Biden’s bid to restore Iran nuclear deal
Israel put pressure on U.S. lawmakers to reject initiatives to restore the Iran nuclear deal during a recent bipartisan congressional trip taken to the Middle East.
On Tisha B’Av, Bennett speaks of ‘freedom of worship’ for Jews on Temple Mount
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett asserted on Sunday that both Jews and Muslims have “freedom of worship” on the Temple Mount, potentially hinting at a change in policy at the most contentious site in Israel.
Ra’am: Al-Aqsa Mosque ‘is solely the property of Muslims’
The Islamist Ra’am party condemned the ascent of hundreds of what it called Jewish “settlers” to the Temple Mount on Sunday morning, during the observance of the Tisha B’Av fast.
Yet again Israel delays reopening to individual vaccinated tourists; No new date set
Permission for Individual tourists to enter Israel has been delayed yet again with no new date set and, now, even Israelis may be barred from flying out of their own country as the government weighs limiting all non-essential travel in order to keep out the much-vaunted Delta variant of the coronavirus.
Israeli Lawmakers Discuss Preparation for Access to 3rd Temple
On Tuesday, Member of Knesset Itamar Ben Gvir, head of the Religious Zionist Party, held a session in the Knesset concerning the dire condition of the Mughrabi Bridge used by Jews to ascend to the Temple Mount. The meeting went on to discuss how Jewish visitation to the site could be encouraged. The meeting came one week before Tisha B’Av (the ninth day of the month of Av), the day commemorating the destruction of the Jewish Temples.
IDF requests funding for a potential strike on Iran, reports say
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is reported to have requested major budget increases to the tune of billions to make ready for a potential strike on Iran’s nuclear program.
Israel rolls out new, toned down vaccine passport called the ‘Happy Pass’ while health director warns of possible fourth lockdown
On Thursday, the Cabinet approved a new vaccine passport – the “happy pass” – which will be put into effect at events such as weddings and bar mitzvahs with 100 people or more required proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID or a negative test.
15 years on, IDF girds for a potentially devastating war against Hezbollah
In a future war with Hezbollah, more rockets and missiles would be fired at Israel from Lebanon in the span of less than two days than were fired during the entire 11-day battle between Israel and Palestinian terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip in May, according to fresh Israeli military assessments.
‘Just the beginning’: UAE opens Tel Aviv embassy as sides hail ties
The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday formally inaugurated its embassy in Israel, capping a process that began with an agreement to normalize diplomatic relations nearly a year ago.
Israel: Archaeologists find 2,000-year-old coins inscribed with references to freedom of Jerusalem and Zion
Israeli archaeologists in the Binyamin region of the West Bank recently found two 2,000-year-old coins which are inscribed with references to the freedom of Jerusalem and Zion, the Times of Israel reports. The coins date back to the times of the Jewish wars against the Romans.
Church of England confirms it will apologize for centuries of supporting anti-semitism in England
The Church of England has confirmed it will officially apologize for the church’s involvement in the expulsion of Jews from medieval England, the Telegraph reports. Jewish groups have welcomed the move.